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Tankoa Yachts’ Solo

Solo steps up both her owner’s game as well as her builder’s, particularly in terms of technology.

For years, people around the world have been focusing on reducing their carbon footprint. Yacht owners are doing their part, too, being especially conscious of the marine environment. The owner of Solo, a repeat customer of Tankoa Yachts, had already engaged in some eco-conscious cruising with his previous project. With Solo, he incorporated more measures to do so. Tankoa, meanwhile, took the opportunity to contribute a few ideas of its own. It did so to show that its Italy-based facility is as engineering-minded as the Northern European shipyards that typically get this type of credit.

With a gross tonnage upwards of 1,600 and an LOA of 236 feet, Solo has an impressive profile. Behind her bulkheads, she has just as impressive equipment and construction. Nitrogen-oxide emissions from her Caterpillar engines are reduced up to 98 percent, for example. Other equipment burns the soot associated with exhaust, preventing black smoke and resulting marks on her hull sides.

Given the popularity of beach clubs aboard today’s megayachts, these eco measures are sure to be appreciated by the owner’s party and charter guests. The curtains denote the area where the beach club leads out to a fold-down terrace. Even without being a full-beam lounge, the beach club creates an inviting atmosphere, with a backlit bar, seating area, and TV.

The beach club aboard Solo is extra inviting, though, due to its proximity to the spa. Guests can relax in this marble-lined hammam, for instance. The spa additionally has a sauna, plus a chilled-water (41 degrees F) shower. For a more energizing experience, Solo further has a well-equipped gym down here.

Because the owner’s previous Tankoa, Suerte, did well on charter, he strove to encourage relaxation aboard. The upper-deck lounge is a good example. It’s part cinema, with an oversize settee and 90-inch 4K QLED TV, and part observation lounge, due to the large ports. A baby grand piano and bio-ethanol fireplace heighten the room’s attraction, too.

Heightening formal dinners, Solo has a fish tank in her dining room (it’s stabilized, for the well-being of the fish). Parties of 16 can also enjoy vistas to each side. Solo’s bulwarks are cut out here, specifically for this purpose.

The owner worked with Francesco Paszkowski and Margherita Casprini to execute Solo’s interior atmosphere. Tones of grey and black are prominent, in stained oak as well as abundant marble. Brushed-aluminum panels are even overhead. The combination of these tones and materials is not cold, though, as evidenced by this “winter garden” lounge on the main deck.

The master suite is perhaps the best example of how warm Solo feels inside. As is customary these days, it’s fully forward on the main deck. Also customary, it has doors leading out to private balconies and alfresco areas to dine and relax. On a related note, all five guest staterooms sit on the main deck, too, benefitting from terrific views.

Back on the environmental theme for a moment, Solo has a carbon-dioxide monitoring system. The idea came from Tankoa itself. It lets the captain regularly track emissions at various speeds. This way, he can determine the performance level where she’s producing the least amount

“Internally, Solo has been a true challenge,” says Michel Karsenti, sales and marketing director for Tankoa. A challenge the shipyard willingly took up, too. “Since the inception of the project, we clearly expressed our will to produce and deliver a boat that could compete head to head with the world’s best builders, mostly from Holland and Germany. This ambition was impressed on all our engineers, craftsmen, and project managers almost every single day during the construction.” Considering Solo’s owner is eyeing yet a third yacht with the shipyard, it sounds like mission accomplished.

Diane M. Byrne is the founder and editor of the daily updated website Megayacht News. A longtime yachting writer, she also contributes to Yachts International, Boat Exclusive, and other magazines. She is additionally a member of the International Superyacht Society Board of Directors and Vice Chair of the U.S. Superyacht Association.